Suntree Soccer Club Handbook

Welcome to Suntree Soccer Club! We are excited to have you and your child be a part of our club. This handbook is designed to provide clear and understandable information for parents and new coaches. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Mission Statement

At Suntree Soccer Club, our mission is to provide a fun and enjoyable experience for youth while they learn the game of soccer. We strive to create a welcoming and safe environment where players of all skill levels can focus on the fundamentals of the game. Our goal is to promote sportsmanship and life skills that extend beyond the field.

Coaches' Mindset

Coaches play a crucial role in setting the tone for the team, including parents and players. A coach's passion, excitement, and positive energy can greatly influence the team's experience. On the other hand, negativity and disrespectful behavior can have a detrimental impact. As an organization, we believe in aligning our decisions with our mission statement, and we expect our coaches to do the same.

Player's Equipment

For the safety of all players, shin guards are required. We highly recommend wearing cleats as they improve traction and help prevent slipping and falling. Additionally, players should bring a soccer ball of the appropriate size to both practice and games. The ball sizes are as follows: U6 - Size 3, U8, U10, and U12 - Size 4, and U15 - Size 5.

Duration of the Game

The duration of the game varies depending on the age group:

- U8, U10, U12, and U15 Divisions: Two 26-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime.

Playing Time and Position Requirements

To ensure fair play and development, we have the following guidelines for playing time and positions:

- No player should play more than two shifts in a row unless the team is short on players.

- No player should sit out more than one six-minute shift unless they are injured or ill.

- Each player needs to play at least one shift at both offense and defense (U6 and U8). Defense, for our purposes, is defined as either defender or midfielder.

- Substitutions should be made at a dead ball close to the 6-minute mark of each half for U6, at dead balls near the 6, 12, and 18-minute marks, and at the end of the half for U8, U10, U12, and U15. Exceptions can be made for injury or illness.

Fouls and Misconduct

Soccer is a physical sport, and while we don't want to call every small foul, it is important to protect the players and call fouls when necessary. Fouls include intentional head and handballs, slide tackles, high kicks, and any attempt to kick, trip, push, or strike an opponent. Coaches and referees should address these during practices and games. It is important to note that while players may be focused on jockeying for position or gaining possession of the ball, there should be no use of hands, arms, elbows, or lowering of shoulders. Pushing, tripping, and outstretched arms to "guard" opposing players are also not allowed.

Concussion Prevention

In accordance with concussion prevention and protection rules, there will be no headers allowed in SSC for any age group. If a player deliberately heads the ball, a free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. If the header occurs in the goal area and has a chance of going in the goal, a goal will be awarded. If it had no chance of going in, a direct free kick should be taken 10 yards back.